The genius behind The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, Planet Of The Apes, countless other movies and TV shows and winner of six Emmy Awards and three Hugo Awards.
But...... Did You Know These Interesting Facts About Rod Serling?

Tuesday, October 31, 2000

Rod Serling Trivia

He Was A Seasoned WWII Veteran And Was Awarded The Purple Heart

Joined the United States Army on January 16th, 1943

Was a paratrooper and served in the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the Pacific theater

Was disappointed at being sent to the Pacific [Being Jewish, he wanted to fight the Germans instead]

Was wounded by a Japanese anti-aircraft artillery weapon while on the ground

The weapon was converted by the enemy for close quarters city fighting

Experienced ghastly and bizarre incidents during combat

Removed thousands of pounds of dynamite from elaborate underground tunnels constructed by the Japanese

Saw his best friend decapitated by a food crate dropped by a U.S. re-supply plane

Shot and killed a Japanese soldier who was standing on third base in a baseball stadium

The incident occurred at the Rizal Baseball Stadium in Manila, Philippines

Manila was the 2nd worst city (behind Warsaw, Poland) in all of WWII for civilian mortality

Returned home from active duty January 13th, 1946 with the following decorations

Purple Heart

Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal [w/battle star]

Philippines Liberation Medal [w/battle star]

American Campaign Medal

National Defense Medal

Overseas Service Bar

After WWII, he tested experimental parachutes for the U.S. Army at $500 per jump!

He Has Been Hailed As The Most Honored And Prolific Writer In The History Of Television

(6) Emmy's (1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961 and 1964)

(3) Hugo Awards (1960, 1961, and 1962)

(2) Sylvania Awards (1955 and 1956)

(2) Christopher Awards (1956 and 1971)

George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award (1957)

Golden Globe Award (1963)

Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement (1976)

Television-Radio Writers' Award (1989)

Writers Guild Of America Awards (2001)

Look Magazine Television Award

Harcourt-Brace Award

Many Famous And 'Soon-To-Be' Famous Actors And Actresses Appeared On The Twilight Zone